116th Street Festival kicks off weekend of Puerto Rican pride

Annual Puerto Rican Festival on East 116th Street warming up the people for Sunday's big parade. (Williams, Budd)

Get ready for some big-belly laughs.

This year, East Harlem's famed 116th Street Festival is set to feature a performance by stand-up comic Gabriel Iglesias.

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The Mexican-American funnyman, who goes by the name "Fluffy" and often references his husky frame in his act, will be the festival's International Youth Ambassador.

Best known for his "I'm Not Fat…I'm Fluffy" and "Hot & Fluffy" shows on Comedy Central, Iglesias will be the first comedian to take one of the main stages at the festival, which over the years has featured Latino music superstars including Tito Puente and Marc Anthony.

The festival, held every year on the Saturday before New York's famous Puerto Rican Day parade, will take place on Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What began nearly three decades ago as a one-block party has grown into a 20-block celebration that stretches along Third Ave. from 106th to 121st Streets and on 116th St. from Lexington to Second Ave.

The festival draws hundreds of thousands of revelers each year who come to sample traditional Latino fare and check out jewelry and other crafts made by Puerto Rican artisans.

"It's a celebration of Puerto Rican culture," said Peter Spinella, executive vice president of the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

"It started out as a pep rally for the Puerto Rican Day parade and then it morphed into its own identity as the largest Latin street festival in New York City."

The festival was founded by NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president Nick Lugo and brothers David and Bob Acosta in 1985 as a way to give an economic boost to a neighborhood that had played host to Puerto Ricans coming from the island and to toast their cultural background.

The festival's two stages at 106th St. and Third Ave. and at 113th and Third Ave. - one hosted by the Daily News and AMOR radio and the other hosted by La Mega radio - will feature live performances throughout the day.

Acts on tap include East Harlem-born singer/songwriter Lumidee, whose single "Never Leave You" was one of the top summer songs of 2003, and salsa band Chino Ramos y su Orquesta.

Also on hand will be life coach Laura Posada, wife of ex-Yankee Jorge Posada, and Maria Alma, long-time producer of deejay Luis Jimenez's morning radio show.

Again this year, revelers will get to sample goodies from Entenmann's manufacturer Bimbo Bakeries at one of about 150 booths, and energy drink maker Monster Beverage will have a BMX stunt show on 116th St. between Third and Second Avenues.